TUI Cruises expands South Africa programme with Cape Town winter season

TUI Cruises is expanding its South Africa deployment for the winter 2027/28 season, with a series of roundtrip voyages from Cape Town forming a central part of its newly announced programme.

From November 2027, Mein Schiff 5 will operate a full winter season in the region, marking the brand’s first extended focus on Southern Africa.

The ship is scheduled to sail a series of roundtrip 14-day itineraries departing from Cape Town, linking South Africa with Indian Ocean islands and coastal destinations.

The voyages are set to include calls at ports such as Gqeberha, Durban, and Richards Bay, alongside international stops including Mauritius and La Réunion. Additional itineraries are expected to incorporate Namibia as part of repositioning and longer voyages.

The deployment represents a further expansion of Cape Town’s role as a turnaround port, with the city increasingly used as a homeport for international cruise operations during the southern hemisphere summer.

The South Africa programme forms part of a wider winter 2027/28 schedule that will see TUI Cruises position multiple ships across key seasonal markets, including the Caribbean, Canary Islands, Asia, and Northern Europe.

Further details of the itineraries are expected to be released as bookings open.

In the Caribbean, several vessels will operate a mix of roundtrip and repositioning cruises. Mein Schiff 1 is scheduled to offer extended voyages linking North America with the Caribbean, including routes via Miami and Puerto Rico to the ABC islands.

Mein Schiff 3 and Mein Schiff 4 will also operate in the region, with itineraries connecting destinations such as Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, St. Lucia, Martinique and Antigua.

Mein Schiff 2 will begin its winter season in Northern Europe before repositioning to warmer climates, offering a combination of shorter sailings and longer itineraries, including a 35-day voyage linking Northern Europe with the Caribbean via the Canary Islands and Madeira.

The line is also continuing to expand its presence in Asia. Mein Schiff 6 is set to reposition via Africa before operating a series of two-week cruises in Southeast Asia, with itineraries including Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam, alongside extended sailings in the Far East.

In the Canary Islands, Mein Schiff 7 and Mein Schiff Relax will operate a range of seven- to 11-night cruises from late October 2027.

These itineraries will focus on island-hopping routes across destinations such as Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Madeira and Fuerteventura, with additional calls in Morocco, the Azores and Cape Verde.

Pricing for the winter programme varies by itinerary and duration, with entry-level fares starting from €729 for a seven-night Canary Islands cruise, rising to €2,079 for a 14-night Northern Europe sailing.